The 2026 Liberty football season is still a few months away, but training camp will be here before you know it. As we still have a few months away from the start of the season, let’s rank which win on Liberty’s football schedule this season would mean the most to the fans. Sure, every win is important especially as the Flames are hooping to rebound from a 4-8 campaign a season ago. Can this team get back to bowl eligibility and potentially make a CUSA Championship run? While those answers won’t be known for a while, we can answer which win would be most important for the fans as we enter the season. Agree with our ranking?

12. Ball State, Sept. 19

A loss here could signal that another rough season is in store. The Flames need to be able to take care of business at home against a MAC foe, but this win likely wouldn’t rank high on Liberty’s fans memory bank.

11. Gardner-Webb, Sept. 12

A loss to Gardner-Webb would be more embarrassing than anything. Liberty is undefeated against FCS opponents since moving to the FBS ranks, and hopefully that streak will remain alive.

10. Sam Houston, Oct. 8

It’s a conference game, so it’s automatically higher than the previous two. Other than that?

9. Middle Tennessee, Nov. 14

The Blue Raiders haven’t been a factor in the CUSA race since Liberty joined the league, making this game not rank very high on this list.

8. Missouri State, Nov. 28

This is the regular season finale and we could feel much different about this game when the time rolls around depending on what’s at stake. Still, the Flames will be looking for some revenge after the Bears came to Lynchburg and upset Liberty last season.

7. New Mexico State, Nov. 7

There is some recent history between these two programs having met in the 2023 CUSA Championship Game. That game just after the two year, in-season home-and-home series between the two former FBS Independents just to make a full schedule work. But there is almost 2,000 miles separating the two, so it makes it difficult for a real rivalry to develop.

6. Delaware, Oct. 2

The Blue Hens are now the closest CUSA team to Lynchburg, setting the stage for a potential rivalry to develop. It’s not there yet, but it only takes time.

5. FIU, Oct. 31

This is homecoming, so that pushes it up a couple of notches, for sure. FIU did upset Liberty last year and appears to be heading in the right direction under second year head coach Willie Simmons.

4. Western Kentucky, Nov. 21

When Liberty entered CUSA a few years ago, it was expected that the Flames and Hilltoppers would annually compete as the top teams in CUSA. That hasn’t exactly materialized and these two didn’t even play last year. There is certainly a chance at a bit of a secondary rivalry to develop, and with this game coming so late in the season it could have a lot of meaning.

3. Kennesaw State, Oct. 21

Let’s be honest, the Owls have had Liberty’s number for some time now. When Kennesaw first started its program, Liberty dominated it’s Big South brethren to begin the series. That changed quickly as Kennesaw became a fixture at the FCS level. Now, they own two wins over the Flames the past two seasons at the FBS and CUSA level. Liberty needs to win this game over the reigning CUSA champs.

2. Coastal Carolina, Sept. 24

When Liberty hired Jamey Chadwell, it felt like the Flames put the final death blow in the rivalry between the Flames and Chanticleers. That continued in 2023, but after disappointing seasons for Liberty in 2024 and 2025, Coastal is fighting to keep this rivalry alive. A win over their former Big South rival and against the head coach that left them would go a long way for that program. For the Flames, a win would be important, especially early in the season.

1. James Madison, Sept. 5

If you live in Lynchburg or the region, you know how many JMU fans you run into regularly. Liberty had the upper hand in this rivalry for a few years after the Flames moved to the FBS while JMU remained in the FCS. Then the Dukes made the move up, but Liberty had a ton of success in its several years head start. Now, JMU is coming off a win at Williams Stadium last year and a trip to the CFP. Can the Flames kick off the 2026 season in style with a trip to Harrisonburg to open the year?